Slit-lamp microscope

Abstract

A slit-lamp microscope includes a base plate defining an x-axis and a z-axis. The microscope includes a movable base member slidably disposed on the base plate. The microscope includes a computer that generates first and second control signals to induce first and second movement devices, respectively, to move the movable base member in response to a first x-axis command and a first z-axis command, respectively, in first and second remote control messages, respectively. The computer generates a third control signal to induce the digital camera of the microscope assembly to generate a digital image from the light received from the subjects eye in response to the photograph command in a third remote control message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slit-lamp microscope, comprising:
 a base plate defining an x-axis and a z-axis;   a movable base member slidably disposed on the base plate;   a first movement device operably coupled to the base plate and the movable base member, the first movement device moving the movable base member left and right parallel to the x-axis;   a second movement device operably coupled to the base plate and the movable base member, the second movement device moving the movable base member forward and backward parallel to the z-axis;   a lower chassis operably coupled to the movable base member;   a first support arm being coupled to the lower chassis and to a microscope assembly;   a second support arm being coupled to the lower chassis and an illumination assembly;   the illumination assembly having a slit forming device and a light source device, the slit forming device having a slit for receiving light therethrough that is output from the light source device, and projects the light from the slit forming device onto a subjects eye;   the microscope assembly receiving light from the subjects eye, the microscope assembly having a digital camera therein;   a computer operably coupled to the first, second, and third movement devices, the microscope assembly, and a remote communication module;   the remote communication module receiving first, second, and third remote control messages with a first x-axis command, a first z-axis command, and a photograph command, respectively, and the remote communication module sending the first x-axis command, the first z-axis command, and the photograph command to the computer;   the computer generating the first and second control signals to induce the first and second movement devices, respectively, to move the movable base member in response to the first x-axis command and the first z-axis command, respectively; and   the computer generating a third control signal to induce the digital camera of the microscope assembly to generate a digital image from the light received from the subjects eye in response to the photograph command.   
     
     
         2 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base plate further defining a y-axis, the y-axis being perpendicular to the x-axis and the z-axis;   a third movement device operably coupled to the movable base member, the base plate, and the lower chassis; the third movement device moving the lower chassis upwardly and downwardly parallel to the y-axis;   the remote communication module receiving a fourth remote control message with a first y-axis command, and the remote communication module sending the first y-axis command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fourth control signal to induce the third movement device to move the movable base member in response to the first y-axis command.   
     
     
         3 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the remote communication module receiving fifth, sixth, and seventh remote control messages with a second x-axis command, a second y-axis command, and a second z-axis command, respectively, and the remote communication module sending the second x-axis command, the second y-axis command, the second z-axis command to the computer; and   the computer generating fifth, sixth, and seventh control signals to induce the first, second, and third movement devices, respectively, to move the movable base member in response to the second x-axis command, the second y-axis command, and the second z-axis command, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a light intensity adjustment device operably coupled to the light source device;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a light intensity command, and the remote communication module sending the light intensity command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the light intensity adjustment device to adjust an intensity of the light being emitted from the light source device in response to the light intensity command.   
     
     
         5 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a slit size adjustment device operably coupled to the slit forming device;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a slit size command, and the remote communication module sending the slit size command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the slit size adjustment device to move first and second blades, respectively, of the slit forming device to obtain a desired size of the slit in response to the slit size command.   
     
     
         6 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a first rotation device operably coupled to the second support arm and the lower chassis, a vertical axis extending through the second support arm and the lower chassis;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a vertical axis rotation command, and the remote communication module sending the vertical axis rotation command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the first rotation device to rotate the second support arm and the illumination assembly a desired amount about the vertical axis in response to the vertical axis rotation command.   
     
     
         7 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a first rotation device operably coupled to the second support arm, the second support arm having a horizontal axis extending therethrough;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a horizontal axis rotation command, and the remote communication module sending the horizontal axis rotation command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the first rotation device to rotate the illumination assembly a desired amount about the horizontal axis in response to the horizontal axis rotation command.   
     
     
         8 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the microscope assembly further includes a magnification adjustment device that is operably coupled to a magnification lens assembly therein, the magnification lens assembly having a plurality of magnification lenses that magnify the light from the subjects eye;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a magnification command, and the remote communication module sending the magnification command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the magnification adjustment device to move a magnification lens of the plurality of magnification lenses into an optical axis to adjust a magnification of the light from the subjects eye in response to the magnification command.   
     
     
         9 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a filtered glass lens selection device operably coupled to a filtered glass lens assembly, the filtered glass lens assembly having a plurality of filtered glass lenses;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a filter command, and the remote communication module sending the filter command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the filtered glass lens selection device to rotate the filtered glass lens assembly to move a filtered glass lens of the plurality of filtered glass lenses into an optical axis to receive the light from the light source device in response to the filter command.   
     
     
         10 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the illumination assembly further includes a light diameter adjustment device operably coupled to a rotatable disk, the rotatable disk having a plurality of apertures therein each having a respective diameter, the rotatable disk receiving the light from the light source device;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a light diameter command, and the remote communication module sending the light diameter command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the light diameter adjustment device to rotate the rotatable disk to move an aperture of the plurality of apertures into an optical axis to receive light from the light source device in response to the light diameter command.   
     
     
         11 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the slit forming device and the light source device having a vertical axis extending therethrough;   the illumination assembly further includes a first rotation device operably coupled to the second support arm that rotates the slit forming device and the light source device;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a vertical slit axis rotation command, and the remote communication module sending the vertical axis slit rotation command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce the first rotation device to rotate the slit forming device and the light source device a desired amount about the vertical axis in response to the vertical axis slit rotation command.   
     
     
         12 . The slit-lamp microscope of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a chin rest assembly coupled to the base plate, the chin rest assembly having a vertical axis extending therethrough;   the remote communication module receiving a fifth remote control message having a chin rest vertical position command, and the remote communication module sending the chin rest vertical position command to the computer; and   the computer generating a fifth control signal to induce a chin rest adjustment device to move the chin rest a desired amount parallel to the vertical axis in response to the chin rest vertical position command.   
     
     
         13 . A slit-lamp microscope, comprising:
 a base plate;   a movable base member slidably disposed on the base plate;   a lower chassis operably coupled to the movable base member;   a first support arm being coupled to the lower chassis and to a microscope assembly;   a second support arm being coupled to the lower chassis and an illumination assembly;   the illumination assembly having a slit forming device, a light source device, and a slit size adjustment device operably coupled to the slit forming device; the slit forming device having a slit for receiving output from the light source device, and projects the light from the slit forming device onto a subjects eye;   the microscope assembly receiving light from the subjects eye, the microscope assembly having a digital camera therein;   a computer operably coupled to the slit size adjustment device, the microscope assembly, and a remote communication module;   the remote communication module receiving first and second remote control messages having a slit size command and a photograph command, respectively, and the remote communication module sending the slit size command and the photograph command to the computer;   the computer generating a first control signal to induce the slit size adjustment device to move first and second blades, respectively, of the slit forming device to obtain a desired size of the slit in response to the slit size command; and   the computer generating a second control signal to induce the digital camera in the microscope assembly to generate a digital image from the light received from the subjects eye in response to the photograph command.